website/content/software/basketball.md

title, tags, years, params

title	tags	years	params
Basketball	basketball sport	1978	image specs screenshots machines company oc_id source /media/museum/software/atari_basketball_box_1_m.jpg label value year of release 1978 label value companies Atari label value type game label value media cartridge label value systems Atari 2600 label value number of players 1 - 2 players (versus) label value staff Alan Miller title subtitle text image demo mode /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_1.png title subtitle text image two players waiting for the jump ball /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_2.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_3.png title subtitle text image yellow player just shot /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_4.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_5.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_6.png title subtitle text image purple player stole the ball /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_7.png title subtitle text image /media/museum/software/basketball-%281978%29-%28atari%29_8.png title subtitle text image cartridge - picture label /media/museum/software/atari_basketball_cart-picture.jpg title subtitle text image cartridge - text label /media/museum/software/atari_basketball_cart-text-label_1.jpg title subtitle text image Sears cartridge /media/museum/software/atari_basketball_cart-sears.jpg title subtitle text image box art /media/museum/software/atari_basketball_box_1.jpg /museum/atari-vcs-2600 /companies/atari 646 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608215914/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/software_detail.asp?id=646 2023-06-08

Basketball was the first "real" basketball videogame. There has been pong variations before, but this basketball game from Atari was the first to use human shaped players (even if their animation is a bit silly) and a pseudo-3D playfield.

Moreover, it offers paced 2 player action along with real basketball features like dribbling, adjustable shots, defensive jumps or even stealing the ball from your adversary hands.

Here is some gameplay description from the manual:

"The player with the ball will dribble automatically and will always face the goal. The defending player will always face the ball.

To shoot, depress the red controller button. Your player will stop dribbling and will hold the ball, waving it back and forth over his head. When the controller button is released, the player will shoot. If the shot is made when the ball is over the player's head, it will be a long, high arching shot. If the shot is made when the ball is held low in front, it will be a short easy shot. The shot will always go towards the goal.

To defend against your opponent's shot, place yourself between the ball and the goal. When the shooter releases the ball, depress your red controller button. Your player will jump and you can block the shot and recover the ball. You can only block a shot when the ball is in its "upward" arc: there is no "goaltending" in this game.

To steal the ball, put the player's feet even with your opponent's feet. When the ball leaves your opponent's hand during the dribble, take the ball and race towards your own basket. Stealing the ball comes much easier with practice and will become an integral part of your defense strategy."

The game was programmed by Alan Miller who was himself a basketball player.